Labour's Josh MacAlister elected as MP for Whitehaven and Workington

The Labour candidate won with 22,173 votes, while Reform UK’s David Surtees (8,887) pushed the Conservative candidate, Andrew Johnson (8,455) into third place.

The Green Party's Jill Perry was fourth (1,207) while Liberal Democrat Chris Wills was fifth (1,189).

Speaking after the result was announced at Whitehaven Sports Centre, Mr MacAlister said: “I’m very excited about what’s next and the opportunity to serve the community.

“The mindset was to fight a campaign as an underdog and start from behind. We have fought right up to the finishing line and have not taken anything for granted.

“It’s humbling to have a clear mandate to represent the community. I will do my best to do so for the next four years.”

Josh MacAlister celebrates with Labour members after being elected as the Member of Parliament for the Whitehaven and Workington constituency (Image: Submitted)

Mr MacAlister said his key priorities for the area would be the sale of land at Moorside and removing obstacles in the way of new nuclear, the redevelopment of Whitehaven town centre, opportunities at the port of Workington and getting the NHS back on its feet.

The result was a major blow to Mr MacAlister’s opponent Andrew Johnson, whose party previously held seats in the Copeland and Workington constituencies.

Conservative Andrew Johnson finished third behind Labour and Reform UK (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "It’s clearly a difficult night for the Conservatives nationally and in Whitehaven and Workington. I would like to congratulate Josh MacAlister on a well-fought campaign.

“We will be holding Labour to account for new nuclear and new jobs and making sure they deliver.”

David Surtees said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I just can’t believe it. I hoped we would beat the Conservatives but didn’t expect it.

Reform UK's David Surtees finished second (Image: Newsquest)

“This is just the start. Josh, I will be coming for you next. I can’t see any definite plans for things getting better.”

The turnout in Whitehaven and Workington was 42,002 (57.38 per cent). The total number of eligible voters was 73,198.

The candidates who stood for Whitehaven and Workington: Josh MacAlister (Labour), Jill Perry (Green Party), Chris Wills (Liberal Democrat), David Surtees (Reform UK), and Andrew Johnson (Conservative) (Image: Newsquest)

Boundary changes saw the new Whitehaven and Workington seat cover the majority of, and replace, the Copeland constituency, which includes Whitehaven, together with the town of Workington and surrounding areas from the Workington constituency.

The former MP for Copeland, Trudy Harrison, of The Conservative Party, did not stand for re-election. The former MP for Workington, Conservative Mark Jenkinson, stood for the new Penrith and Solway constituency but lost to Labour’s Markus Campbell-Savours.